Skydance Corporation has merged Warner Bros. Games and Paramount Games under the 'Skydance Games' banner. The news comes immediately after Paramount Skydance completed its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to become the Skydance Corporation.
An internal FAQ made accessible to employees and viewed by Vertical Slice explains "both brands will continue to exist under Skydance Games." It states each will continue developing and publishing games based on their respective franchise portfolios. "Together, the combined company will steward these worlds, grow them, and create the next great ones," the FAQ concludes.
Warner Bros. Games houses notable studios such as Batman: Arkham developer Rocksteady, LEGO custodian TT Games, and Mortal Kombat maker NetherRealm. Paramount Games was formed in June this year when the company merged its video game studios into one division (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz).
Leadership changes have also been swiftly confirmed. Warner Bros. Discovery president and CEO of global streaming and games, Jean-Briac Perrette, will no longer lead the video game division, having already been named co-chair and chief business officer of Skydance TV and Skydance Direct-To-Consumer. In his new role, Perrette will be heavily involved in the operation of HBO Max and Paramount+ programming.
In an exit email sent to Warner Bros. Games staff (obtained by Vertical Slice), Perrette praised the "world class developers and talented teams" within the division. He added that WB Games is now "incredibly well positioned" for the years ahead.
"I know it hasn't been easy, and we've had the highest of highs and lowest of lows in terms of business performance, but even through the difficult periods this team has been incredibly resilient and in a creative business, that is the most powerful of traits," wrote Perrette. "Thanks to you we have gotten back to delivering high-quality experiences for our fans and payers and gotten back our credibility and renewed confidence as a business."
Perrette has been succeeded by Tony Driscoll, the newly-minted president of games and experiences at Skydance. Driscoll previously oversaw key aspects of corporate strategy and business development at AT&T and The Walt Disney Company. Notably, he worked at Epic Games from November 2021 to October 2024, where he launched, scaled, and managed Fortnite's creator economy and ecosystem.
In a memo sent to employees (obtained by Vertical Slice and Variety), Driscoll indicated the merger will allow the new-look video game division to leverage even more key franchises. Properties such as Star Trek, Mission Impossible, SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Godfather, Harry Potter, DC, Mortal Kombat, The Matrix, Rick and Morty, and Game of Thrones were all mentioned in the letter.
Driscoll explained Warner Bros. Games and Paramount Games will now work as "one team" with the remit of crafting "bigger, bolder worlds for fans to explore."
"We immerse our guests in theme parks, resorts, restaurants, retail, studio tours, and more. We immerse our players in action, adventure, combat, competition, and creativity, from Batman to 'SpongeBob. And no matter your role on this team, you are a creator, builder, operator, and steward of those worlds," he wrote.
"We have the opportunity to create amazing spaces where friendships are formed and communities grow. That is only possible because of your hard work and talent."
Vertical Slice has reached out to Skydance Corporation for more information on its video game strategy.
Chris is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience covering the video game industry. He was formerly news editor at Game Developer and is currently the founder and editor of this resplendent website.
